Bulldogs Welcome Class of 2010

Jul 12, 2006

July 12, 2006

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -
The Yale field hockey team welcomes six players as part of the Class of 2010. The group includes two forwards, one back, one goalkeeper and two players that could see action at either forward or midfielder. Two of the incoming recruits have National Futures experience, and the group also includes the sister of a current Bulldog.

Here is a look at Yale's incoming freshmen:

Midfielder/forward Katie Cantore (Hershey, Pa.) was first team all-state and a member of the Harrisburg Patriot-News Big 11 for Hershey High School, which was runner-up in District 3. She was also a Mid-Penn conference all-star and Player of the Year for the Keystone Division.

Cantore was named to the PHSFHCA All-Academic Team and is a member of the National Honor Society. She served as chairman of the Four Diamonds Fund Dance Marathon, helping her school raise $27,000 for children with cancer.

"I chose Yale because it offered me the opportunity to get the best education in the world," Cantore said.

Forward/midfielder Stephanie Colantonio (Watertown, Mass.) was a two-time Middlesex League All-Star and co-captain for Watertown High School, leading the team to a Division II North championship. A state finalist for the Wendy's High School Heisman, she has participated in the U.S. National Hockey Festival and the National Indoor Tournament with the Cape Ann Coalition.

Colantonio is also a member of the National Honor Society and was class salutatorian. She set the school record for the fastest mile time in outdoor track.

"Yale was a perfect fit," Colantonio said. "If you spend one day with the people on campus, you will know why."

Goalkeeper Charlotte Goins (New Bern, N.C.) was All-South Region for Arendell Parrott Academy, the school that also produced current Bulldog Ali Rotondo. Rotondo's mother, Lydia, founded the field hockey program there. Goins was nominated for All-American and has participated in the National Futures Championship, the National Hockey Festival and the National Indoor Tournament (twice).

An Academic All-American, Goins was the student chairman of the Honor Council at her school. She is interested in working in the film industry.

"When I visited Yale during my junior year I never wanted to leave, and I thought it unfair that I had to go home while the Yale kids got to stay," Goins said.

Forward Lesley Kiger (Pittsburgh, Pa.) joins her sister, Lorrie, on the Yale roster. She was second team All-State and has participated in the National Futures Tournament and the National Indoor Tournament. She was captain and MVP for the Ellis School, helping the team to a District 7 championship.

Kiger was a member of the NFHCA All-Academic Team and is a member of the Cum Laude Society.

"I love that Yale has great academics and field hockey, all on a beautiful campus with a residential college system that has no peer," Kiger said.

Forward Ashley McCauley (Rye, N.Y.) was all-state and the top scorer in Section 1 for Rye High School. She was named to the Gannett Journal News All-Star Team. She is a member of the National Honor Society and was student council president.

"Yale is a great school, and I loved the field hockey program and coaches," McCauley said.

Back Julia Weiser (Houston, Texas) was all-conference and All-South Zone at St. John's School. She earned her school's award for athletic excellence in field hockey and is a National Merit Scholar.

"At Yale I met people who were truly passionate about what they were doing," Weiser said. "The students had such diverse interests and backgrounds, but they shared a dedication to learning and growing as individuals that I had not encountered before. I talked to athletes, artists and actors, and I was amazed at how enthusiastic they were about what they were doing, and beyond that, about sharing their experiences with me, though I was a stranger."

Yale opens 2006 at home against Virginia Commonwealth on Sept. 1. The Bulldogs return four of their top six scorers from a year ago and have one returning goalkeeper.